Innovation may be one of the most over-used, yet least understood terms in popular culture. One of the challenges of harnessing innovation in a repeatable way that can permeate an organization is to establish a common language (terms of reference for my Pentagon homies) and an effective set of processes and tools. That is what the Global Innovation Management Institute (GIMI) Framework and the Innovation Management Body of Knowledge (IMBOK) provide.
As I pursued my innovation studies and incorporated innovation into Quality Innovation consulting practice, I looked at a number of methodologies and consultancies. Once I saw the GIMI Framework and the results produced by IXL, I was sold and knew that I had found the right partner. The primary difference I see between GIMI and other organizations that may appear similar, is the relentless focus on tangible, measurable outcomes. The GIMI methodology is not about glorified brainstorming sessions that lead nowhere. It is about missions accomplished, revenue in the bank, and market growth.
In 2017, Quality Innovation sponsored an Innovation Olympics in support of the Capital Area Food Bank (CAFB). Teams from around the globe immersed themselves in the CAFB mission and strategic challenges. These teams collaborated with the CAFB staff and advisors from the IXL Center and Quality Innovation during a six-week competition. These diverse teams of engineers, MBA’s, scientists, and PhD’s challenged preconceived barriers, found synergies with partner programs, and proposed concrete solutions to CAFB strategic problems. The CAFB not only implemented the winning teams’ solution, they remain engaged with several teams more than a year later incorporating their solutions. These solutions improved CAFB logistics, outreach, and operations in a significant way in a short period of time. For more information about the CAFB’s Innovation Olympics, check out our site.